Worldwide climate change protest

Fiji Times

23 September, 2014, 12:00 am

NEW YORK – Activists have mobilised in cities across the globe for marches against climate change, with one of the biggest planned for New York, where celebrities, political leaders and tens of thousands of people are expected.

Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, former US vice president turned advocate Al Gore, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio were all due to take part on Sunday in what organisers hoped would be the largest climate change protest in history.

The “People’s Climate March” in New York has been endorsed by more than 1400 organisations, including environment, faith and justice groups, as well as labour unions. Students have mobilised marchers from more than 300 college campuses.

The rallies, including another 2500 around the world, take place ahead of a climate change summit hosted by Mr Ban on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The UN meeting Tuesday sets the stage for a crucial conference in Paris in December 2015 aimed at finalising an agreement.